In Rose’s first draft, the Knicks selected Obi Toppin eighth overall and picked Immanuel Quickley with their 25th pick. Quickley got hooked on the Knicks fan base pretty quickly (I know, sorry) and established himself as a staple in a short amount of time. Quickley’s sudden rise calmed Toppin’s early struggles.
The Knicks initially viewed Toppin as Randle’s eventual replacement, but Randle’s rise to All-Star status puts Toppin and the team in a tough spot. Currently, Randle is third in the NBA in minutes per game (36.7) and with Thibodeau’s preference for as much floor bumper as possible, Toppin has been limited to 12.2 minutes in 25 games. It’s early days, but Toppin’s role in the future of the franchise will be a topic that continues.